Wildlife Biologist 1 (Pcn 11N24114)

This position is open to Alaska Residents only.

Please check our residency definition to determine if you qualify.

The Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Division of Wildlife Conservation is recruiting for a Wildlife Biologist 1 located in Palmer!

What you will be doing:

Under the direction of the Wildlife Physiologist, the incumbent in this position will oversee daily animal care and facility maintenance operations of the Foraging Ecology and Wildlife Nutritional Analysis Lab and will assist with research and/or management projects related to wildlife nutrition and physiology, including plant sampling, winter browse surveys, and may assist with laboratory assays. In addition to coordinating work of seasonal technicians, the incumbent will be responsible for maintaining inventories; supply procurement; facility maintenance and construction; compiling and summarizing data on animal behavior, feed, and other samples; animal training and husbandry activities; performing literature reviews; and assisting with preparation of various reports, agreements, and other written documents.

Our organization, mission, and culture:

The mission of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is to protect, maintain, and improve the fish, game, and aquatic plant resources of the State, and manage their use and development in the best interest of the economy and the well-being of the people of the State, consistent with the sustained yield principle. Work performed in this position contributes directly to the mission of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game by maintaining habitat assessment tools (i.e., research animals) and associated facilities, and by assisting with ongoing nutrition studies that inform habitat management and conservation. Additionally, work performed in this position helps in evaluating nutritional carrying capacity of landscapes, consistent with meeting goals of the sustained yield principle.

Benefits of joining our team:

The incumbent in this position will be able to develop their knowledge of wildlife nutrition in captive and field settings and will have opportunities to contribute to research aimed at enhancing conservation and management of ungulates in Alaska. The position also affords the unique opportunity of working with tame caribou and moose in a research setting.

The working conditions you can expect:

The position is based in Palmer, AK. The Wildlife Biologist 1 will work as part of a team of staff, including a Wildlife Physiologist, Wildlife Biologist 1/2, and seasonal fish and wildlife technicians, at the ADFG FaWNA Lab and captive animal facility.

The incumbent will be on site daily for work, which will include work in the lab as well as outdoor work with animals and maintenance of their enclosures. Outdoor summer work will occur in all weather conditions and outdoor winter work will occur in snow, wind, and cold temperatures. Hours can be irregular and will include some weekends (1-2 per month depending on seasonal staffing levels), evenings, and holidays to cover animal care needs.

The incumbent is expected to be willing to work as needed to meet animal care needs.

The incumbent also will conduct field work in remote settings to collect plant samples, estimate forage availability, and assist with foraging studies.

• Animal care is a primary duty of this position.

• The incumbent should be willing to accept work schedules that can change on short notice to accommodate animal husbandry needs and must be flexible in terms of scheduling.

• Work outside of normal business hours is required of all facility staff to accommodate animal care needs, which can include evenings, weekends, and holidays. Staff rotate to cover weekend care year-round.

• Outdoor work occurs in all weather conditions

Who we are looking for:

We are looking for an individual with the following knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Experience with husbandry, care, training, and chemical immobilization of large mammals, with preference given to experience with caribou, moose, or other wild taxa.

• Experience in leadership roles and abilities to lead teams, including being able to problem solve, trouble shoot, make decisions, and coordinate work.

• Experience with manual labor relative to animal facility maintenance, construction, and repairs.

• Experience writing and publishing reports, peer-reviewed articles, or other documents.

• Strong interpersonal skills (e.g., effective communication, active listening, growth mindset, responsibility, discipline, self-motivation, strong work ethic).

To view the general description and example of duties for a Wildlife Biologist 1 please go to the following link: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/Alaska/classspecs   

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management.

Substitution:

A bachelor's degree from an accredited college that includes or is supplemented by the following credit hours will substitute for the degree in a specific field:

• at least 24 semester hours (36 quarter hours) in biology, a branch of biology, limnology, biometrics, oceanography, forestry, or natural resource management (excluding courses that focus on agricultural husbandry techniques, human population dynamics, or the design and manipulation of landscapes), of which 16 semester hours (24 quarter hours) are upper division courses; and
• at least 12 semester hours (16 quarter hours) in any combination of two or more of the following: chemistry, physics, mathematics, statistics, geology, hydrology, or GIS.

Special Note: 

"Upper division courses" means courses that are specialized, in-depth and advanced. Such courses emphasize problem-solving, analytical thinking skills, and theoretical applications, with depth and rigor in a discipline's theories and methods; specialization in a particular field or profession; refinement of general education; and/or development of specific intellectual and professional skills. Upper division courses are commonly identified in college catalogs as 300 level and higher.

Some positions may require training in specialized areas such as hydroacoustics, microscopic analysis, underwater research, or fish habitat restoration or enhancement.

An individual who will complete the educational requirements and obtain the required bachelor's degree within six months may apply and be considered for a vacancy. Such applicants may be given a conditional job offer but may not be appointed until receipt of the required degree has been documented.

THIS RECRUITMENT IS FOR ALASKA RESIDENTS ONLY

This recruitment is open to Alaska Residents only. Applicants must meet Alaska Residency Requirements in order to be considered for employment at this time.

COVER LETTER

A cover letter is required for this position and will be used as a writing sample. The cover letter should highlight your knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience as they pertain to the position-specific competencies listed in the job description.

Please attach the cover letter to your application before submitting it online or, if unable to attach to your application, fax or email it to the contact provided in the job posting. Your cover letter will be used to help determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment and selection process.

SUPPLEMENTAL QUESTIONS

For your application to be evaluated you must answer the Supplemental Questions.  Be specific in your answers and tell us how you acquired the relevant experience.

Please use complete sentences and proof-read your submissions when answering the supplemental questions. Your responses will be considered a writing sample and will be used to determine which applicants will advance to the interview phase of the recruitment process.

Special Note:

A valid driver's license is required.

FIREARMS

This position requires the use or possession of a firearm or ammunition. In accordance with the federal Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act of 1997 (PL 104-208), if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, you may not hold this position.

A "misdemeanor crime of domestic violence" is an offense that is (1) a misdemeanor under Federal or state law; and (2) has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person who is cohabiting with or has cohabited with the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim.

If you have ever been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, do NOT apply for this position.

EDUCATION

To verify education is being used to meet and/or support the required minimum qualifications/competencies, you must fill in the Education section of the application. If you have not obtained a degree, please indicate the number of units completed. Copies of transcripts are required to verify educational credentials used to meet or support the minimum qualifications/competencies for a position and are required with each application. (Unofficial is okay; please ensure the institution/URL name is listed on the transcripts). Transcripts can be attached at the time of application or provided at the time of interview; if not, transcripts will be required before employment.

SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR FOREIGN EDUCATION

Education completed in foreign colleges or universities may be used to meet the above requirements, if applicable. If utilizing this education you must show that the education credentials have been submitted to a private organization that specializes in interpretation of foreign educational credentials and that such education has been deemed to be at least equivalent to that gained in conventional U.S. education programs; or an accredited U.S. state university reports the other institution as one whose transcript is given full value, or full value is given in subject areas applicable to the curricula at the state university.

 It is your responsibility to provide such evidence when applying.  Omission of required documentation listed will result in an incomplete application and you will not receive further consideration.

WORK EXPERIENCE

If using work experience not already documented in your application, also provide the employer name, your job title, dates of employment, and whether full-or part-time. Applications will be reviewed to determine if the responses are supported and minimum qualifications are clearly met. If they are not, the applicant may not advance to the interview and selection phase of the recruitment.

NOTE: Attaching a resume or curriculum vitae is not an alternative to filling out the application in its entirety. Noting "see resume or CV" or any similar response on any portion of your application may lead to a determination your application is incomplete and removal from consideration for this job posting.

MULTIPLE VACANCIES

This recruitment may be used for more than one (1) vacancy. The applicant pool acquired during this recruitment may be used for future vacancies for up to ninety (90) days after this recruitment closes. Interested applicants are encouraged to apply to each recruitment notice to ensure consideration for all vacancies.

EEO STATEMENT

The State of Alaska complies with Title I of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Individuals with disabilities, who require accommodation, auxiliary aides or services, or alternative communication formats, please call 1-800-587-0430 or (907) 465-4095 in Juneau or TTY: Alaska Relay 711 or 1-800-770-8973 or correspond with the Division of Personnel & Labor Relations at:

P.O. Box 110201, Juneau, AK 99811-0201. The State of Alaska is an equal opportunity employer.

NOTICE

If you choose to be contacted by email, please ensure your email address is correct on your application and that the spam filter will permit email from the 'govermentjobs.com' domains. For information on allowing emails from the 'governmentjobs.com' domains, visit the Lost Password Help page located at https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword.

WORKPLACE ALASKA APPLICATION QUESTIONS & ASSISTANCE

Questions regarding application submission or system operation errors should be directed to the Workplace Alaska hotline at 1-800-587-0430 (toll free) or (907) 465-4095 if you are located in the Juneau area. Requests for information may also be emailed to recruitment.services@alaska.gov.

For applicant password assistance please visit: https://www.governmentjobs.com/OnlineApplication/User/ResetPassword

For specific information in reference to the position please contact the hiring manager:

Kristin Denryter

Wildlife Physiologist 2

Kristin.Denryter@alaska.gov